Wednesday, February 6, 2013

How did Native American's first interactions with settlers become the base of future conflicts?

When many different European Empires settled in North America in the mid 1600s, each formed a different relationship with the Natives. It is within these early interactions where inequality and tention is quiet evident. The 3 main european powers which had the most interactions with Native Americans was the Dutch, French and English. The Dutch's alliance with Native Americans was for pure economical purposes like trading fur, farming and building ships. The French and the English also allied for economical purposes but also seised the alliance as an opportunity to convert the Native Americans to Christianity. Different tribes allied with different European groups. By now tension is building, there are different tribes working with different European powers, who are all struggling to overpower each other. Indians were being exterminated and killed off their own lands so settlers could have the land for themselves. King Philip's war was the very famous Native american uprising. One of the first and biggest revolts against settlers. It was the result of "Praying Towns" which were run by misionarys trying to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Most of the praying towns served as a safe house for Native Americans. It was a way for them to coexist among the English without conflict. The issue was when King Philip promised to follow English law, and 3 of his tribe members were hung by the British trail for killing an Indian from another tribe. King Philip was upset, and convinced other tribes to join him to fight the English. The war ended badly for King Philip and other indians. Most of them were killed, and survivors were shipped as slaves to the Carribean. This war was a major turning point which suggested that native americans and settlers will have difficultly coexisting. Other tribes which were trading with the French and Dutch were also sold into slavery or some moved away from them. Most indians re-located out west to escape the europeans. There they lived peacefully until Americans stated expanding out west, when more conflicts rised. 

1 comment:

  1. Some great information about early interactions. I'm curious to see how you develop this as a basis for their future relationships as is suggested by your question. What aspects from these initial confrontations are carried over? What changes over time? What are the factors that are framing these interactions (religion? culture? language)?

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